With the security forces intensifying anti-insurgency operations in Manipur in the wake of Tuesday evening's blast that killed 17 persons in Imphal, eight militants were shot dead in different parts of the state on Thursday.

Five militants belonging to Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) were shot dead in an encounter by security forces in a joint operation carried out by the Assam Rifles and Manipur police commandos at Heingang Heibi Makhong village in Imphal East district on Thursday, according to a security source.

The operation was carried out on the basis of specific information about the presence of militants in the village. The security forces recovered two M16 rifles, one 9 mm pistol, one carbine, one lethod bomb, nine detonators, plastic explosives and ammunition from the slain militants.

It was the KCP (MC) group that claimed responsibility for Tuesday's evening explosion in Imphal that left 17 dead and 30 injured.

The outfit claimed that it had triggered the explosion in the dice den at Ragailong area as part of its campaign against pre-Diwali gambling spree in different parts of the state.

It said the practice of gambling especially before the Diwali festival had spoilt the social atmosphere in the state.

In another encounter on the same day, security forces gunned down two militants in an encounter at Maharabi village in Imphal West district and recovered a 9 mm pistol and a Chinese-made grenade from the slain militants.

Another militant was shot dead by police commandos at Baruni in Imphal east district.